The first casualty when war comes is truth.

– Hiram Johnson

Sales 3 Team are gathered in a meeting room, listening to the recorded phone conversation:

GR: I have a question. Then aren’t the roles of reversed right now? I don’t know how Mr. Choi made that judgment, but our company actually has the upper hand, right? Mr. Seok…

Chief: Jang Geu Rae!!

End of recording. Everyone’s is looking at the table, not making any eye contact. Chief finally asks GR what his intention was. GR remains quiet. Damage control time. Chief asks DS to connect him to Mr. Seok.

Chief Oh: [laughs] Our youngest one made a mistake. No way [laughs] We don’t think so at all… I told you last time it’s to make things clear. Don’t worry… Recording? I’ve already deleted it [laughs] Yes… I’ll treat you to soju when you come to Korea. Have a good day! [laughs]

He hangs up the phone, and the burden weighs even heavier on Chief’s shoulders…

Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

You only think about what you think is right. Everything else doesn’t go however you want it to.

Chief Oh nods to himself as he dresses up in a suit he normally wouldn’t wear. His wife teases him, but he remains stoic, “Just go classy today since you need all the luck you can have. Order good food and take a taxi there.”

Leaders don’t create followers,
they create more leaders.

Tom Peters

Sales Department corner is abuzz with tasks to be done. GR picks up a call at his desk and informs the caller that the Person In-Charge has been transferred to Mr. Kim Dong Shik and provides the correct extension number as well. DS and Mr. Chun can only look forlornly at GR’s back. They inwardly wanted GR to carry through his ownership of his hard-earned business item, but office policy (or rather politics) encumbered GR’s progress.

Brief update on BK, YY and SY

Mr. Kang is on the phone with his Turkish counterpart, discussing about effects of currency exchange rate on their trading business. He asks BK for the Turkey file which was on his desk and BK sheepishly passes it on and smiles “I’m sorry I can’t multitask” which stumps Mr. Kang temporarily. Did my junior just made a joke? With me?

Mr. Jung praises YY’s work, lavishing praises on a simple print out. YY responds with a short and sassy, “You only see that now?” Mr. Yoo and Mr. Ha are gaping at their desks. Since when did YY become “one of the guys” on their team?

SY’s updates his big boss directly on the sub-con situation: Good news, they can manufacture the portion that Ulsan factory couldn’t in two week. The Ulsan site also conveyed their earnestness in working hard to minimize their losses. Big Boss is very pleased with the progress and rectified working relations with Ulsan that he tells SY to be fully in-charge of communication with Ulsan factory and sub-cons. Mr. Sung watches them furtively from his desk…

What I always say is, ‘Do every job you’re in like you’re going to do it for the rest of your life, and demonstrate that ownership of it.’

– Mary Barra

It’s a brand new day! GR is in the midst of getting ready for work. There is a sense of purpose when he buttons his crisp white shirt and expertly tied necktie. He walks to work in a beautiful sunny morning and sees SY at the main lobby of One International… who has the most dramatic makeover with just a haircut

GR voiceover:

Extremes can relate to each other. In order to withstand helplessness, in order to withstand injustice and phoniness, SY chose to keep his mouth shut. He was erasing time by training how to numb himself. He lost his smile, and we lost him.

I started to miss his annoying chatter long ago. But none of us would dare give him advice. It’s been 17 months since we started working. We knew clearly by now you had to withstand hardships by yourself.

But I still wanted to tell him, “Even if you lose a stone, the game goes on, SY-Sshi.”

I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he’s wrong.Than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil.

– Malcolm X

It’s a new year’s kick-off at One International. Everybody who’s anybody turns up for the major meeting. There was even an introduction and award-giving session for the best performing team. It was also a moment for GR to realize that he is only a very small part of the whole. Tiny.

BK is on the phone with a German client (WHOA! ) Mr. Kang overhears his conversation and looks on as BK wraps up his call. BK feels good about it, but Kang pops his bubble of happiness by telling him his pronunciation needs polishing, and proceeds to teach him how to create the sound 😀 When Kang leaves his desk, BK murmurs to himself, “But I majored in German Lit.” LOL!! XD